Ceremony lighting can make a huge difference in your pictures, yet it’s something that many brides never even realize they need to consider. As a bride before I became a photographer, I know I never thought twice about ceremony lighting!
Your professional photographer has a camera that can deal with a lot – things like dark churches – but what kind of light is present makes a big difference in the unique look of your pictures.
We’re sharing 3 quick tips on making sure you have the best lighting possible for your ceremony!
1. Time your outdoor ceremony to be 2 or 3 hours before sunset. This allows for some beautiful daylight, while still having plenty of time for your ceremony and portraits before the sun sets.
For example, if you have your outdoor wedding in the middle of the day when the sun is high in the sky, the light comes straight down from the top. That top-down light can create shadows on your face that aren’t flattering for anyone.
Directing really bright lights down on the bride and groom during a church ceremony is very similar to mid-day sun. It creates harsh light and shadows on your face.
2. Have as much light as possible, especially natural light. If you’re having an indoor ceremony, churches with big windows that let in lots of natural light are beautiful! White walls help reflect the light you do have to use it to its fullest. The more light there is, the easier it is for our cameras to use that light for the images!
3. Use even lighting at your ceremony site. If there is a bright spotlight just on the bride and groom, the camera will be exposing to compensate for the bright light. That means your bridal party and guests may look really dark in the pictures.
Sometimes there isn’t much you can do to control the lighting in some venues, especially if your venue is a church, but these tips will help you start thinking about your own ceremony lighting. As always, your photographer can answer any questions about your particular venue!
*hugs*
Amber
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